BCCI office-bearers indicate they will defy CoA, will go ahead with SGM

BCCI office-bearers have indicated to the Committee of Administrators that they will hold the Special General Meeting (SGM) as scheduled on April 9 . The friction between BCCI officials and Supreme Court-appointed administrators continue.

cricketUpdated: Mar 29, 2017 10:59 IST

HTC and Agencies

Members of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), (from left ) IDFC Managing Director Vikram Limaye, former CAG of India Vinod Rai and former cricketer Diana Edulji. The CoA doesn’t seem to be on the same page as BCCI officials(PTI)

The friction between the existing office-bearers of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Committee of Administrators (CoA) doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon. In the latest battle for one-upmanship, the existing BCCI office-bearers have indicated to CoA --- which was appointed by the Supreme Court --- that the Special General Meeting (SGM) on April 9 will go ahead as scheduled.

The office-bearers have also asked the CoA members to be part of the SGM, and in case they are not able to make it due to personal reasons, they can hook up via video conferencing.

The BCCI office-bearers, replying to the seven-point dos and don’ts of the Committee of Administrators, have also pointed out that as per the Supreme Court order dated January 2, the elected office-bearers are required to carry out their duties that are stipulated in the “Rules and Regulations of the BCCI”.

Their response comes a day after they met Vikram Limaye and Diana Edulji --- the two members of the CoA --- and BCCI CEO Rahul Johri.

The three BCCI office-bearers --- senior vice-president CK Khanna, joint secretary Amitabh Choudhary and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry --- said in their reply that, “As per the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court dated the 2nd January 2017, the elected office-bearers are required to carry out their duties.”

“With regard to the request for change in date of the SGM made in today’s meeting as well as in the subsequent email, the same can hardly be effected by us in view of the nature of the requisition by a majority of the General Body and its notice having already been issued to over three dozen members.

“However, all arrangements for attending the meeting via video conferencing will be made for all members of the CoA in case any one of them is not able to attend the meeting in person.

“With regard to direction 1, the Acting President BCCI, on the request of a majority of the members of BCCI had instructed the Acting Secretary yesterday i.e. 26.03.2017 to call for a Special General Meeting specifying even the agenda, pursuant to which a meeting notice was issued by Acting Secretary yesterday, copy of which had been sent to you.

“It is our understanding, on the basis of legal advice received regarding the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court that the directions which the CoA has been empowered to issue cannot override the extant Rules and Regulations of the BCCI,” the letter further read.

The three office-bearers also said that as per the apex court order, they are eligible to be part of any BCCI committee. “We, as elected office-bearers, have a responsibility to follow the Rules and Regulations of the BCCI as well as act as per the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.

“Further, as pointed out to you today, there is no order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court that disqualifies any person from being a member of any Committee of the BCCI or to represent the BCCI or any of its members on account of being over the age of 70. The disqualifications as per the orders of the Hon’ble Court are only for becoming Office Bearers of the BCCI or the State Cricket Associations.”

The office-bearers finally concluded by saying that, “Our intention is to work with the CoA in an amicable and constructive manner whilst exercising our duties. As discussed with you earlier today, we shall be working with you in the best interests of the BCCI.”